In 1969 Swaziland, young Ralph watches his family unravel amid colonial decline. His new stepmother becomes an unlikely source of comfort and clarity.
Set in the dying days of the British Empire in 1969 Swaziland, Wah-Wah follows young Ralph as he navigates the emotional wreckage of his parents’ crumbling marriage, fuelled by infidelity and alcoholism. Amid the chaos, Ralph finds unexpected solace in his American stepmother, one of the few adults who truly sees and understands him. A poignant coming-of-age story of loss, identity, and resilience.
Rialto Recommends: Wah-Wah. Richard E. Grant’s tender, witty directorial debut revisits his youth in 1960s Swaziland, as family chaos mirrors the end of British colonial rule. With Nicholas Hoult, Gabriel Byrne, Emily Watson, and Julie Walters, Wah-Wah is a nostalgic, bittersweet coming-of-age tale tinged with fading empire and fractured love.
Cast
Nicholas Hoult (lt Ralph Compton), Gabriel Byrne (Harry Compton), Emily Watson (Ruby Compton), Julie Walters (Gwen Traherne)
Director
Writer
Producer
Producer
Composer
Cinematographer
Language
English
Subtitles
English
Countries
United Kingdom, France, South Africa
Studios
Lionsgate, Samuel Goldwyn Films